Severe intractable eyelid dermatitis probably caused by exposure to hydroperoxides of linalool in a heavily fragranced shampoo

Contact allergy to oxidized geraniol among Swedish dermatitis patients—A multicentre study by the Swedish Contact Dermatitis Research Group

“…8,10,19,25 For many individuals, the dermatitis will clear when such exposure is terminated. 8,26 Interestingly, in all of the studies on oxidized fragrance terpenes, there is a strong female dominance among the allergic patients. 9,[19][20][21]27,28 In the present study, there is also a female dominance, with 2-3 times higher frequencies of positive patch test reactions to oxidized geraniol among women ( Table 2).…”

“…The clinical relevance of these reactions has been discussed, and it has been shown that the patients, if questioned, will, in many cases, be using a product containing the mother compound on the dermatitis areas . For many individuals, the dermatitis will clear when such exposure is terminated . Interestingly, in all of the studies on oxidized fragrance terpenes, there is a strong female dominance among the allergic patients .…”

“…The identification and quantification of labile hydroperoxides in complex products are rarely available, for technical reasons. A case report described a girl with solitary contact allergy to oxidized linalool . Her dermatitis cleared when the use of a scented shampoo was discontinued.…”

Oxidation products and the skin – the effect of hydroperoxides

“…For oxidized linalool, a repeated open application test (ROAT) has shown allergic reactions to a concentration not far from the concentrations detected in fine fragrances recalled from the consumers in an investigation by the fragrance industry . A recent report described a case of a small girl with contact allergy to oxidized linalool who had persistent eyelid dermatitis, which healed only when exposure to a heavily scented shampoo ceased; the shampoo was analytically confirmed to contain linalool hydroperoxides (0.2 µg/g) . If further studies confirm that such low concentrations can induce dermatitis with repeated exposures, then keeping fragrances and scented products at safe levels regarding hydroperoxides is indeed a great problem.…”

Extended patch-test screening for fragrance contact allergy: findings and challenges

“…Chemical analysis is very difficult, especially in more complex matrices beyond hydroalcoholic solutions. Therefore, careful diagnostic work‐up combined with advanced analytical methods is needed to provide more insights into those concentrations of hydroperoxides that are able to sensitize and elicit allergic contact dermatitis …”